Off topic - Using Great War Photos

[Michael]

Mark and Vig,

My copyright law is very rusty, but I don't think it's just a flat 50-70-75 years. At least for written works we're looking at those many years FROM THE DEATH OF THE AUTHOUR.

Therein lies the real problem. Who was the photographer and when did they die?

All

The problem with published material is that it in itself attracts copyright. Basically if a photo has been used in a book you can not just scan it into your computer and put it on a website as this is an infringement. If the book you use is more than 50 years old then you are o.k, as the copyright on published material expires after 50 years. If you are using original materials then the copyright on them, if writen, is 70 years after the death of the author, and in the case of original photos 50 years from the year it was taken.

The real probelm now is that for vast sums, and not such vast sums, the authors of works sign over their copyright to publishers meaning that it doesn't matter when the work was published as it is still death of the author plus 70.

Therefore you are screwed if you try and use most material from world war one.

There are exceptions to this, but i don't want to turn this into legal hour, so if you want to know more e-mail me and i will give you the full works including relevant statutes. Bare in mind that i am a English law student, so if you are outside of europe or the commonwealth then there are a small number of differences.

O.k that is all i have to say for now, apart from IT IS NOT AN INFRINGEMENT UNTIL YOU GET CAUGHT. And unless you have vast amounts of money in the bank or are using it for commercial purposes 'they' will not sue you (probably!!!!).

Mark